Categories
News

Joint BS/BA and Master’s programs gain popularity

By Courtney Bottazzi

Contributing Writer

Out of the 3,500 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students enrolled at the University, only a handful of students span both groups by enrolling in programs that simultaneously complete requirements for dual degrees and master’s degrees. These programs can include summer courses, extra classes and additional years spent on the University’s campus.

Heather Lenker ’12, a chemistry major, and Stephanie Cutler ’12, a civil engineer and management for engineering major, are involved in these types of programs on campus.

Heather first found out about the B.S./master’s degree program from her adviser.

“My adviser told me about the program and said it would be good for me to get another degree since I was already getting research done so early,” Lenker said.

Lenker stayed at the University this past summer and will continue her research this coming summer. She also must complete three graduate level classes over the course of her junior and senior years.

“It’s been a great experience and is really helping me make the most out of my Bucknell experience,” Lenker said.

The civil engineering and management program is one of the reasons Cutler chose to attend the University.

“I thought by double-majoring in management, I could learn skills that are really different than what most engineers get but are still really necessary in all engineering industries,” said Cutler, who is completing the requirements for a B.S. degree in engineering while taking eight management classes.

“This program not only gives me a great opportunity to plan my schedule three years in advance, but it’s also a really great way to take advantage of two strong programs that Bucknell has to offer. Bucknell emphasizes management and communication skills for all of its engineers but I get extra exposure to that so hopefully I’ll get a job someday,” Cutler said.

Cutler also participated in a six-week class this summer at the Institute for Leadership in Technology and Management.

These programs have given students opportunities to go beyond the scope of their majors and take full advantage of the education the University has to offer. The hard work demanded by extra classes and research will give these students an enormous accomplishment and either a master’s degree or dual degree at graduation.

Categories
Arts & Life

Digital readers: the next paperbacks

By Carolyn Williams

Contributing Writer

Last year one of the holiday season’s most talked-about gift items was the new Kindle, a groundbreaking electronic portable reader created and sold by Amazon.com. Competitors such as the Barnes and Nobles Nook and the Apple iPad quickly followed, and electronic readers grew even more in popularity.

Buying an electronic reader is no small decision, especially for students, as these advancements in technology are very expensive for the average budget. The three brands compared here each come in different models with varying price ranges. The Nook costs between $149 and $199, Kindles start at $139 and can cost up to $379 and the iPad starts at $499 with the most expensive model costing $829. After making a substantial investment to buy your reader, you still have to pay to fill your digital bookshelf with modern works.

Ava Giuliano ’14 thinks the price of her iPad was well worth it. “I love that I can bring five books on a trip and my iPad will always weigh the same. It’s so nice having all of your books in one place,” she said.

Giuliano says she makes frequent use of her iPad’s search button. The touch screen is “so much fun,” she said. She does admit that when she brings her iPad on an airplane, it’s irritating not to be able to read during takeoff or landing. She has problems with glare from the sun at the beach, and having to rely on a battery does make her miss traditional paper books.

Liz Walker ’14 feels differently about e-readers. Although she concedes that she likes both the environmentally–conscious aspect of electronic readers as well as their ability to hold many books at once, she fundamentally disagrees with the idea of reading from something other than a physical book.

“They’re tricking children into reading by comparing it to a video game. It’s not the same thing. Electronic readers don’t have a book cover, something you should see every time you pick up a work. You’re losing part of a book’s key essence,” Walker said.

Like Giuliano, Walker takes issue with electronic readers’ dependency on batteries. She believes electronic readers are a waste of money and thinks money could instead be spent on ever-lasting paperbacks.

“This technology will be eventually replaced by the next advancement in electronic reading, and then you’ll have blown your money on something that not only is now obsolete but is destroying the printing industry,” Walker said.

Invoking both patriotism and Chaucer, Walker closes her argument. “It’s simply un-American, just let sleeping dogs lie.”

Categories
Arts & Life

Fall fashion trends sweep campus

By Maggie Schneiderman

Contributing Writer

Temperatures may have been floating around the 70-degree mark lately, but with October here and fall officially started, fall clothes are emerging at the front of everyone’s closets.

This season, there’s more to look forward to than just cozy sweaters and warm boots. Expect this fall’s looks to be a happy medium between the classic and the creative, in a very wearable way. Many stores popular among students as well as high-end designers have been setting and adopting some of this fall’s hottest trends.

Good news for those of you who appreciate the minimalist tendencies of recent designs: those trends are going to carry over into fall 2010 with some new twists. The fall runways were inundated with looks that epitomized conservative glamour, so there’s no question the recession has left a lasting mark on fashion. For over a year, designers have had to adjust to changes in the demand from shoppers, and the minimalistic look was reintroduced.

This fall, the same put-together, but not over-the-top, undertones remain. The reemergence of luxury on the runways this season was approached from a savvier angle.  This season there were no overt, in-your-face jewels, as stylists attempted a more subtle return to quality and classic style. Quality is now in the value of clothes, the notion that these are staples, and are pieces that have real staying power. Camel coats and knits are expected to be a fall essential. Classic cashmere tops, warm jumpers, tights, a good boot, textured flats: These items have stamina and are sure to be appreciated long after fall 2010.

Another trend popping up in retailers like J. Crew and Urban Outfitters is the eccentric ladylike. This trend focuses on mixing patterns and classic feminine pieces. Embellished cardigans with pops of color are in fall look books all over. Models are shown subtly incorporating two patterns in one outfit, and the way to wear color this fall is simply head-to-toe. Bright pieces are emerging as the weather changes. Expect to see some of your favorite feminine essentials made with a fun twist for fall.

Go west, young woman … or at least go outside. According to Harpers Bazaar, that was the message ringing from several runways. Models appeared adventurous and outdoorsy on the runway.  Flannels in rich colors and styles, a cool-weather favorite, will be proving their vitality this season. Belted jackets, trenches and vests are expected to be making a mark in stores as the weather gets cooler. These pieces, usually reserved for outerwear purposes, could very well be seen more and more as apart of the outfit itself, in great fall colors, paired with a classic boot or tapered jean.

Skinny jeans and leggings will continue to be popular this fall, and you can expect to see many individuals on campus sporting this popular and ongoing trend. “I’ll be wearing leggings a lot as the weather gets cooler, and of course, skinny jeans are going to be one of my staples this fall,” said Leigh Hillman ’13.

Fall accessories will also be a popular trend this fall, as they are well-priced and long lasting pieces. “This fall I’ll be wearing a lot of scarves, boots and the occasional legging. This year I’ll probably be adding more hats to my fall selection,” said Liz Ziebarth ’14.

The take-home message this autumn is not to be afraid to update classics, mix trends, introduce the old to the new and be a little daring with color. As the weather changes, so do our wardrobes and outfits, in the best, classically eclectic and subtly bold ways.

Categories
Arts & Life Movies Review

‘Savage/Love’ pleases viewers

By Christina Oddo

Writer

I decided to bring my 11-year-old sister to see “Savage/Love” Saturday night. As we sat in our seats waiting for the play to begin, we glanced through the pamphlet handed to us when we entered the theatre. My sister asked methe meaning of the word “savage.” Realizing she was referring to the title of Shepard’s play, I had to actually think for a few minutes, essentially trying to make sense of the strange pairing of the words “savage” and “love.” The title is quite oxymoronic. How could love, such a beautiful and natural concept, be compared, or even placed next to, such a brutal, corrupt image?

The unsettling nature of this coupling captures the true essence of “Savage/Love,” directed by Ali Keller ’12.Jeff Simkins ’13 and Emily Hooper ’14did an admirable job portraying a relationship that is fragmented, lacking and full of disappointment, frustration and misunderstanding.

Simkins and Hooper used their facial expressions and to strike the audience directly with heart-felt emotions. The passionproved the relationship onstage was far from ideal. Passion drove the play, and each word and interaction seemed dominated by inner emotions and deep, complicated understandings (or misunderstandings).

While the characters’ facial expressions made clear the barriers to communication within the relationship, the array of monologues allowed the audience witness these inner thoughts.

From the outset, the spoken wordsweaved the unsettling notion and the idea of “savagery” in relation to “love” throughout the play.

“When I first looked at you, I killed you,” Simkin’s character said in the middle of the play.

The characters throughout seemed to want to revisit the feelings they experienced when they first met.But the word “savage” takes on a different meaning as the lives of the characters progress.

“I wasn’t sure which one of us was killed,” Hooper said. The “murder without weapons” takes the word “savage” to the next level. Why are the characters still participating in a relationship that is essentially destroying the two involved? This is the question that most fascinated Keller before she decided to direct the piece.

Despite the sense of killing and the notion of murder, the two continue to experience a longing throughout the play. Who, or what, do they long for and ultimately love? I am “haunted by your hair, by your skin, when you’re not around. Am I dreaming you up?” Simkins’ character said at the end.

Love is evident, but for whom? Considering the characters say the same thing but in different beats during one of the most captivating and enthralling moments in the entire piece, they must find something in the other, some sort of love, whether most of it has deteriorated or not.

“We breathe the same way,” Hooper’s character said.

What is in the way, then? What is working against the two? Why are the two now “acting the partners in love”? This is where the word “savage” intrudes on the word “love.”

Needless to say, Hooper and Simkins truly captured the essence of a “savage” relationship, a “savage love.”

Categories
Opinion

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ propagates homophobia

By Chris Giglio

Opinions Edtor

My first year at the University, I received a call from a high school friend informing me that one of our peers had hung himself in his dorm room at the University of Pennsylvania.  Alex was smarter, more social and just an overall better person than I will ever be.  He was also gay.  Growing up in a conservative family, the pressure of hiding who he really was pushed him to the point of suicide.  It makes me sick to think of the little things I could have done to ease the pain he was feeling.  It also makes me sick to think we are currently exposing gay men and women in our military to the same type of pressure.

Since 1992 the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy has barred anyone who “demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” from serving in the military because “it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.” This is one of the most backwards statements I have ever heard.  Cohesion is indeed an essential part of the military, but forcing gay military personnel to hide who they are only isolates them from their comrades and impedes cohesion.

Being a soldier is probably the most stressful line of work anyone can be in.  In times of combat you fear for your life, deal with the stress of being away from your loved ones and the moral qualm between doing what is right and doing what is necessary to survive. It is unjustifiable to add even more stress to the estimated 65,000 gay servicemen and women who must worry every day about being exposed. And as this stress builds up they have nowhere to turn—they cannot talk to their comrades nor can they turn to the psychological services offered by the military.

The University of California Blue Ribbon Commission estimated that over 10 years we have spent $363.8 million discharging gays from the military.  It would be much cheaper to discharge the few soldiers who have a problem with fighting alongside competent gay soldiers. A Gallup Poll shows 79 percent of people within the 18-29 age range (the typical age of soldiers) are in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Continuing this policy only serves to propagate homophobic behavior.

In an article you should strive to present the counter-argument of your position in the best of light.  But I can’t bring myself to support an argument which has killed a friend of mine and which puts thousands of others in a similar position.

Categories
News

FIRE billboard criticizes University

By Courtney Flagg

News Editor

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has purchased a billboard advertisement on Route 15 in Lewisburg to publicize their opinion that the University has a poor record for free speech.

According to their recent press release, FIRE has timed the release of the billboard to coincide with Family Weekend.

“Parents, trustees, alumni and the public should know that speech is not free at Bucknell. The goal of this attention is to restore students’ free speech at Bucknell,” said Adam Kissel, FIRE’s vice president of programs.

FIRE, whose mission is to preserve and maintain individual rights at American institutions, first came into contact with the University because of a free speech case in 2002. The organization has a Campus Freedom Network and goes to student conferences where FIRE staff members meet University students. Bucknell University Conservatives Club (BUCC) originally contacted FIRE in April 2009 in reference to the shutting down of their affirmative action bake sale.

“The billboard draws attention to Bucknell’s poor free speech record since 2009. We hope that parents, trustees, alumni and the public will see the billboard, learn about the case and then join us in advocating for students’ free speech rights at Bucknell,” Kissel said.

Representatives of FIRE hope the new billboard advertisement will force the University to make amendments to the policies that prevented the bake sale from continuing.

“We hope that Bucknell will revise the two policies it has used to infringe upon freedom of speech. Bucknell promises free speech, so Bucknell students deserve the same rights that students have at public colleges that are bound by the First Amendment. Why would Bucknell want to offer fewer rights than they have off of campus or at a public college?” Kissel said.

Kissel urges students to express themselves if they feel strongly about the issue.

“Students, Bucknell Student Government and other student organizations can advocate for their rights at Bucknell. They can contact President Bravman to express their views. Writing for student publications, posting flyers and holding events are just some of the other things that students can do to advocate for their rights,” Kissel said.

Categories
Editorial Opinion

Editorial

Last Saturday’s Fall Fest was supposed to be a day of wholesome fun. Inflatable obstacle courses and jousting rings occupied Sojka lawn, along with a dunk tank and several tables sponsored by student organizations and campus organizations. Carnival-type foods like snow cones and popcorn added to the festive autumn atmosphere. Then, Na Palm performed on the Fall Fest stage, seeming to undermine the spirit of the event.

Na Palm, also known as Craig Steven Palm, is a rapper from Chicago whose electronic hip-hop songs are laced with expletives. His lyrics typically feature drug use, excessive drinking and partying. They also disrespect women.

In light of recent discussions on campus about sexual assault, respect for one another and proper decorum, we are concerned about the decision to allow Na Palm to perform at this year’s event. His performance and the lifestyle he represents through his music seem to perpetuate the problems the campus is trying to eliminate.

Na Palm opened for Sam Adams, whom the Campus Activities and Programs (CAP) Center and Activities and Campus Events (ACE) booked for the event. Na Palm was not mentioned in the Facebook event or posters around the University announcing Fall Fest.

What bothered us most about his performance was not the offensive content of his music. Each day we can hear similar tunes on the Internet or on the radio (though even broadcast radio must comply with regulations set by the Federal Communications Commission). The real issue was the inappropriateness of the performance for the setting.

Fall Fest is an annual event open to the entire campus community. Faculty, students and staff are able to participate. Since children were in attendance, we were especially worried about Na Palm’s obscenities. Moreover, we believe that since Fall Fest took place in a very public setting, it was unfair that so many people were subject to hearing the vulgarities. The sound carries well in the open air, and even those in the surrounding vicinity could hear the music. Many students at the event seemed uncomfortable or nervous during the performance.

Na Palm’s musical stylings were unexpected at the event this year. We do not question people’s right to listen to such music, nor do we condemn their taste. We simply believe that in this case, since Fall Fest’s entertainment was so prominent,  attendees were not given enough information to be able to make informed choices about whether to subject themselves to Na Palm’s potentially offensive performance.

Categories
News

5k run/walk supports breast cancer research

By Olivia Seecof

Writer

This past Sunday, University students, faculty, community members and families gathered for the ninth annual Paint Bucknell Pink 5K run/walk. The walk was a part of the University’s Family Weekend and was sponsored by the University’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) club.

“Paint Bucknell Pink is such a great event because students and families do it together and they have the opportunity to meet other survivors and families going through the same trials and tribulations,” executive chair Dana Silverstein ’12 said.

During the week before the event, members of CAC sold black tank tops with the neon pink phrase “Paint Bucknell Pink” across the front. The money raised from shirt sales and during the walk goes towards the Relay for Life event in the spring. All of the profits from Relay for Life then go directly to the American Cancer Society.

“Everyone does this walk for a different reason. Some do it to honor a memory of a loved one, some do it to be with family or friends and some just do it to support a great cause,” said Lucy Christensen ’12, advocacy chair of Paint Bucknell Pink.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and over 150 participants took part in the event to raise awareness and funds.  The University and campus community raised approximately $4,800.

“It was really great seeing all of the Bucknell families and communities come together to support a great cause,” walk participant Maggie O’Brien ’14 said.

Categories
News

Student Government initiatives executed

By Brenna English-Loeb

Staff Writer

Bucknell Student Government (BSG) has implemented several new projects this semester, ranging from the Zipcars parked across from the Elaine Langone Center (ELC) to new printers around campus. With its new initiatives, BSG hopes to encourage better communication with the student body.

Zipcars are an environmentally-friendly development BSG helped implement. The requirements and rates are much less stringent than most car rental services. Drivers only have to be 18, although they are required to have had their license for at least one year and have a clean driving record.

Students can join by visiting zipcar.com and entering Lewisburg, Pa.

BSG has been working to update the technology stations around campus. There is a new printer in the Niche, located behind 7th Street Café, that can be accessed wirelessly from laptops.

“The printer in the Niche is incredibly convenient for people who hang out in 7th St. [Café]” said Sarah Bowen ’11, representative for the class of 2011 and public affairs committee co-chair.

The instructions for printing to the new printer are on the Library and Information Technology website. To access the L&IT site, log in to myBucknell and click on the Library link on the left-hand side.

BSG also hopes to solicit suggestions via the BSG Suggestion Box, located on the left-hand panel of the Student Dashboard on myBucknell.  All comments are anonymous.

Earlier this semester, BSG improved the quality of the equipment in the non-varsity weight room on the second level of the main fitness room in the KLARC center.

To increase the organization’s visibility, BSG representatives will be setting up tables two or three times a week in the ELC mall in November. They will be publicizing the initiatives and will answer questions in an effort to better connect themselves with the student body.

“It is part of a plan that we expect will improve communication between our organization and the student body. We want to prove to the student community that we are here to advocate for them and have already brought many positive changes to campus,” said Joey Martin ’12, BSG vice president of administration. “We hope students will come by, meet their class representatives and voice any concerns they may have.”

Categories
News

New Susquehanna launch site created

By Jessica Domsky

Contributing Writer

To use the Susquehanna River’s natural beauty, as well as create both outdoor academic and recreational opportunities for the campus community, the University has created a new dock behind the facilities shop at the end of River Road.

The dock opens direct access to the river from campus and is open from dawn to dusk, giving students, faculty and staff three-season access to canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Students and faculty also have access to the river for research and teaching.

“The dock is a wonderful place to land or launch a personal float trip as well as recreational trips for the Outing Club or other outdoor education and leadership supported trips,” said Poppy Goforth, director of outdoor education and leadership. “I can’t wait to see students, faculty and staff down there enjoying the river and all it has to offer.”

The Susquehanna River, host to numerous wildlife and water activities, has been an important aspect of the University since the early 1900s.

“I like the fact that the river is just a few yards from my office,” said Jim Hostetler, director of construction and design. “I can get a sense of remoteness and the tranquility that comes along with it.”

As a part of the master plan for the University, former President Brian C. Mitchell began pursuing the idea of a possible connection point between campus and the river at a 4.3 acre tract acquired from the Lewisburg Area Joint Sewer Authority. Soon after, Mitchell authorized money for the design.

The project itself became possible from donor contributions, particularly from long-time University supporter Ben Sampson ’69, and the Degenstein Foundation. Donor contributions made it possible to build the present phase during the summer.

Bucknell Landing is a way for the campus community to reconnect with the river, and students, faculty and staff eagerly anticipate its opening.

“The dock seems like it will be a great addition to Bucknell,” said Rebecca Coldwell ’11, environmental studies major and current Bucknell on the Susquehanna participant. “I hope to get a chance to use it for some of my classes!”

The grand opening of the new dock, originally scheduled for Thursday, was postponed due to poor weather. The grand opening will now be held next spring. Experienced students will give basic kayak instruction.

The modular dock will come out of the water prior to the start of winter and will be launched again each spring.

“We are hoping to start a new ongoing tradition in which students celebrate the oncoming of spring by putting the floatable dock into the river,” Hostetler said.

There has been discussion and debate over whether or not the Landing will be developed further and if so, what it will look like.

“It would be great if faculty and students took ownership of the parcel. Ideally, faculty and students might appoint an advisory committee to plan how it’s used, monitor the site and consider any further development. It could present numerous learning opportunities,” Hostetler said.

“I encourage feedback from members of the Bucknell Community,” Goforth said, “and I hope that whatever happens next at the Landing, if anything at all, is done with support and consensus from the University as a whole.”